Quick Links
When You Arrive:
When you arrive via train or bus, there’ll be a number of people waiting outside offering rides to your accomadation or asking if you want a motorbike. Definitly get the motor bike! It’ll be cheaper, more fun, and easier to get to all the amazing places Ninh Binh has to offer!!!
Where To Stay:
I recommend staying at Yen’s Homestay. She gives you a map of the area and MANY recommendations. It’s a clean place with A/C! It also has a resturant where you get free breakfast with your stay, plus a full menu if you decide to eat there for lunch and dinner. Check it out HERE!
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Monk Praying @ Temple During Trang An Boat Tour
View from Hang Múa (Dragon on the Mountain)
Dragon On The Mountain
Dragon on the Mountain
Road to Yen’s Homestay
Big Buddha @ Bai Dinh Pagoda
Trang An Boat Tour
What To Do In Ninh Binh
1) Hang Múa (Dragon on the Mountain)
- 500 steps to 2 different scenic spots that overlook the countryside
- Find the cave and walk along an underwater path
Parking: Don’t stop and pay for parking outside the gate, they’re trying to scam you.
2) Bai Dinh Pagoda
- The tallest pagoda in SE Asia
- Go inside and take the elevator to the top for some amazing panorama views
- Walk around the entirety of the temple! There’s a giant worship hall, big buddha, the largest bell tower in Asia, and much more to see in the area, spend a whole day there
Parking: When you pull up, you’ll have to pay about $3 for parking for the day. You’ll then have to pay for an entrance ticket. After that, jump on the shuttle to get to the Temple.
3) Trang An Boat Tour
- Relaxing boat ride and great spots for taking photos
- We did Route 3 and it was excellent!
- It takes you through 3 low-hanging caves and 3 different temples
- It also takes you to an area where they shot ‘King Kong: Kong Island’
Parking: There’s a parking lot across the street from the ticket booth
4) Thung Nham Bird Park
- Check out ‘Observation Point’
- Most zen place I’ve been, it was hard for me to leave
- Find the 1000 year-old tree
- Explore through Mermaid Cave
Parking: You enter through a gate to get into the park, then you drive down the road a little further until you find a parking booth, park there and enjoy the area!
5) Thai Vi Temple
- We went here in the evening time just to check it out
- But the area around is wonderful! There’s rice fields and it was a beautiful spot to watch the sunset
- Go into town and eat dinner! Cheap and tasty traditional restaurants everywhere
6) Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
- The capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries
- There’s a number of different areas to see while visiting the Capital
- Xuân Thủy Temple
- Tomb of the First Emperor
- Temple of King Le Dai Hanh
- Chùa Nhất Trụ Temple
7) Bich Dong Pagoda
- Consists of 3 different pagodas
- Ha
- Trung
- Thuong
- While visiting the Pagodas, explore the area, some of the coolest spots are the ones not easily seen
Parking: It’s free. Don’t let them fool you!
Beginning of Mermaid Cave
Sunset Outside Thai Vi Temple
Bich Dong Pagoda
‘King Kong’ Movie Set
Low Hanging Cave During Boat Tour
Motorbiking Monk- Bich Dong Pagoda
Pagoda During Boat Tour
Thung Nham Bird Park
